PIONEER PASSES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3273, 2 March 1937, Page 4

PIONEER PASSES

DEATH OF MR JOHN McCANN

74 YEARS IN CAMBRIDGE -

The death on Saturday of Mr John McCann, of Wilson Street, aged 75 years, removes front Cambridge one of its best known identities and another of the fast declining band of pioneers who provided the heritage of a rich, fertile Wailcato district.

Mr McCann had lived continuously in Cambridge for 74 years, and he was an authority on the early days and happenings in this district. He provided much valuable material for articles published in the Waikato Independent during the Borough Jubilee. Mr McCann was the son of the late Mr and Mrs William George' McCann and was born in Hobart, Tasmania. He came to New Zealand with his parents when less than a year old, and after a short period at Howick, the family came to Cambridge, where deceased had resided ever since. He was educated at the original Cambridge School and then joined the Armed Constabulary until he suffered a broken thigh in a serious accident. As a young man, he was a fine athlete and earned the reputation of being the best walker in the Waikato. He was keenly interested in all sport, especially racing and hunting, and it is recalled that he assisted the inventor, Mr J. Arnabaldi, in the operation of the first totalisator in the Dominion at the old Cambridge Jockey Club's meeting. This totalisator was recently discovered in Cambridge and is now in the Wellington museum. Mr McCann, married Miss Kemp, o? Onehuhga, | %tc "Cambridge and they took land. at Fencourt, which is still held by. the McCann family. The possession of -a- quiet but splendid character, earned for Mr McCann the Respectof a very wide circle of friends in the Waikato. He enjoyed good health until a week before his death, when he was operated on in Hamilton, His death occurred on Saturday.

Deceased is survived by his wife and family of'two sons and two daughers. They are Messrs P. and A. McCann, of Cambridge, and Mesdames Macky (Auckland) and A. L. Allen (Cambridge). There are four grand-children. The funeral was of a private nature.